Fabrizio Romano provides Luis Enrique update and assesses two names linked to Manchester United manager job

It doesn’t look as if Manchester United will be hiring Luis Enquire as their next permanent manager - according to Fabrizio Romano.

The Italian football journalist believes due to Enrique’s focus on Spain’s World Cup preparations and the tournament itself, the 51-year-old won’t be United’s next manager this summer.

Speaking on the FIVE podcast with Rio Ferdinand and other guests, Romano doesn’t think the Red Devils will be able to lure Enrique from his role with the Spanish national team at the end of the season.

“I can tell you Luis Enrique is 100 % staying with Spain until the World Cup, there’s no doubt about that one,” Romano said.

“Of course the situation could change for summer 2023 but now he’s only focusing on the World Cup with Spain and I don’t see Luis Enrique deciding for his future during this process.”

Enrique is in his second spell with La Roja and guided them to the semi-finals of Euro 2020 last summer and finishing runners-up in the 2020-21 Nationals League.

The Spaniard is no stranger to managing at club level either, having been in charge of Barcelona B, AS Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona senior team. With the latter he saw significant success, winning nine trophies, including the Champions League in 2015.

Despite this, Romano emphasised talks between Enrique and clubs remain ‘quiet’ with any suggestion he could be going to United particularly quiet.

However, the Italian journalist did mention two names who Red Devils’ fans should keep an eye out for in relation to the manager’s job.

“What I’m told from people close to Luis Enrique [it] is still quiet with clubs,” Romano said.

“With Man United in particular it’s absolutely quiet. He’s focusing on Spain and I would keep the names of [Mauricio] Pochettino and [Erik] ten Hag as priorities for the Man United job.”

Pochettino is currently 5/4 favourite to be appointed as United’s next permanent manager, while ten Hag is second on the list at 3/1 and Enrique sits joint-11th at 33/1.